NTU Undergraduates' research April 2014 - Biosciences | Page 13

Analysis of P.minutus infection of Gammarus Pulex.
By Toby M Stroud.

Abstract:
P.minutus is a parasite of water birds, however the organisms life cycle is dependent on an
intermediate host; arthropods, specifically Gammarus pulex. It has been observed for many
years that G.pulex infected with P.minutus express different behaviours, however the
mechanisms causing such behaviours have never been documented. It has been theorised that
Serotonin is the molecule that causes the behavioural abnormalities, Serotonin is a
neurotransmitter that is known to have a role in behaviour in many organisms, and it has
recently been associated with modulating the reaction to light. After performing various genetic
testing between the two organisms using gel electrophoresis to show if specific genes are being
expressed, it is still unclear. Due to several unsuccessful attempts to produce cDNA it was
difficult to determine if serotonin was being over/under expressed by G.pulex. An opportunity to
sequence the whole mitochondrial gene for P.minutus arose and was taken, due to a lack of time
the sequences are missing from the report. The success of the sequencing would allow for
further testing on the nucleotide leading to a more in-depth knowledge on P.minutus.
Keywords: G.pulex, P.minutus, Serotonin, Genetics, Gel electrophoresis.